Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Armed bandits stormed Kwasare community in Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State late Sunday night, injuring a member of a local vigilante group and abducting 14 residents, including women and children, in the latest episode of violence to hit rural settlements in Nigeria’s northwest.
Residents said the attackers arrived under cover of darkness, firing sporadically to create panic before moving from house to house. During the assault, a member of the community’s vigilante outfit sustained gunshot injuries while attempting to repel the attackers. He was later transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment. His condition had not been officially disclosed at the time of filing this report.
The assailants reportedly rounded up 14 villagers and forced them into the surrounding bush. Among those taken were women and children, deepening fears within the agrarian community where families depend heavily on subsistence farming and local trade. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as residents fled into nearby farmlands to escape the gunmen.
Local authorities in Wurno Local Government Area confirmed the attack and said security agencies had been alerted. Troops and other security personnel were said to have commenced search operations in the area, though no immediate arrests were announced. Efforts to reach spokespersons for the police and military for detailed operational updates were ongoing.
Sokoto State has, in recent years, experienced recurrent attacks by armed groups locally described as bandits. These groups are typically involved in cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom, and raids on rural communities. While their motivations are often framed as criminal rather than ideological, security analysts note that the lines between organised banditry and insurgent-style operations have at times blurred, particularly in forest corridors linking Sokoto with neighbouring Zamfara and Katsina states.
Wurno, located in the eastern flank of Sokoto State, shares proximity with areas that have witnessed repeated abductions and armed raids. Rural communities across the northwest have become particularly vulnerable due to sparse security presence, difficult terrain, and limited infrastructure. Many settlements rely on volunteer vigilante groups equipped with basic weapons to provide first-line defence against attackers armed with sophisticated firearms.
The latest incident underscores persistent security challenges confronting northern Nigeria despite ongoing federal and state-level interventions. Over the past few years, Nigerian authorities have deployed joint military and police operations across the northwest in an attempt to dismantle bandit camps and disrupt kidnapping networks. Air strikes, ground assaults, and intelligence-led raids have resulted in the neutralisation of several gang leaders and the rescue of abductees in different states. However, sporadic attacks continue, often shifting from one local government area to another.
Community leaders in Kwasare expressed concern over what they described as increasing boldness among armed groups operating in remote areas. Some residents called for a more permanent security presence, including the establishment of forward operating bases closer to vulnerable settlements. Others urged authorities to improve surveillance and intelligence gathering to prevent night-time incursions.
Kidnapping for ransom remains one of the most lucrative criminal enterprises in parts of northern Nigeria. Families of abducted persons are often forced into negotiations with captors, sometimes raising substantial sums to secure the release of loved ones. Human rights organisations have repeatedly warned that the cycle of ransom payments may be inadvertently fuelling further abductions, as criminal groups exploit economic hardship and weak law enforcement coverage.
The humanitarian implications of such attacks are significant. Displacement from repeated violence has forced many villagers to abandon farms and relocate to relatively safer urban centres. This pattern disrupts agricultural production and contributes to food insecurity in a region already grappling with climate pressures and economic strain.
Security experts argue that a sustainable solution will require a combination of military pressure, community engagement, socio-economic development, and strengthened judicial processes to ensure that arrested suspects are effectively prosecuted. They also stress the need for improved coordination between federal security agencies and local authorities to close operational gaps that armed groups exploit.
As search efforts continue for the abducted residents of Kwasare, anxiety remains high among families awaiting news of their loved ones. Community members have appealed for swift action to secure their release and restore a sense of safety to the area.
The attack in Wurno adds to a troubling pattern of violence that has reshaped daily life in many parts of northern Nigeria. For rural communities, nightfall increasingly brings uncertainty, with residents forced to balance resilience with fear as security forces struggle to outpace mobile and heavily armed criminal networks.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments